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Direct current power supplyDirect current power supply description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070241721, Direct current power supply. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/385,209 filed Mar. 21, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/663,865, filed Mar. 21, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to a portable direct current power supply for a handheld electronic device. More particularly, this invention pertains to a direct current power supply for devices such as cellular phones. [0003] The proliferation of portable battery powered devices, such as cellular telephones, has increased dramatically in the last several years and this trend is expected to continue. The phones typically use a rechargeable battery that is built into the phone to provide the needed power. The length of time that the battery powers the phone is dependent primarily upon the size of the battery and the number of energy consuming features built into the phone. In response to consumer demand, cell phone manufacturers incorporate into the phones features such as the ability to send and receive digital pictures and/or text messages. Unfortunately, the inclusion of these features usually places additional demands on the rechargeable batteries that power the cell phones. The net result is that the cell phones' run times become shorter and shorter due to the increased power demands. At the same time that the electrical demand placed on the battery is increasing, the size and weight of cell phones is decreasing in order to reduce the size of the phones. As the size of the cell phone is reduced, the size of the battery compartment built into the cell phone is also reduced. The existence of these two trends (i.e. increased electrical demand and reduced battery size) has caused many cell phone users to experience a failed telephone call or data transmission due to the depletion of their phone's battery at an inopportune moment. An additional trend that complicates resolving this problem is that most cell phones require a battery that has specific size and shape characteristics. In order to encourage consumers to purchase replacement batteries from the cell phone manufacturer, the cell phones are made with batteries that have unique shapes, locking mechanisms, voltage requirements, etc. Furthermore, the recharging port built into the cell phones limit the type of charger that can be connected to the cell phone. Collectively, these factors limit the consumer's ability to rapidly replace the depleted battery with another power supply. [0004] Numerous attempts have been made to develop a suitable portable power supply for cellular telephones. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,801 discloses a power supply that includes a battery pack and a base unit which has bidirectional circuitry. The battery pack is made to snap into the base unit which is designed to be clipped onto the cellular telephone. Unfortunately, the battery pack and base unit tend to increase the size and weight of the cell phone, which is contrary to the consumer's desire, while also causing additional proliferation in the number of components the consumer needs to replace when the phone's battery is depleted. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,784 discloses a unique battery pack that can be plugged into a cellular phone's contact to recharge the phone's built-in rechargeable battery and/or directly power the cell phone. This invention bundles the battery with the plug that allows the battery pack to be connected to the phone. Consequently, when the battery pack's battery is depleted the entire battery pack, including the plug, must be discarded which increases the consumer's cost. [0005] Therefore, there exists a need for a portable direct current power supply that uses a commonly available battery that the consumer can readily insert into and remove from a reusable housing. The power supply needs to be lightweight, volume efficient and easily adaptable to a wide array of cell phones that utilize batteries of various shapes and sizes. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] Aspects of the present invention address these matters, and others. [0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a portable battery powered power supply supplies electrical energy to an electrical appliance. The power supply includes a housing including a battery receiving region, power supply circuitry that receives electrical energy from a battery received in the battery receiving region, and an electrical connector attached for pivotal motion with respect to the housing. The connector is pivotable to a first position for connecting to a corresponding connector of the electrical appliance and a second position. [0008] According to another aspect, a method includes pivoting an electrical connector of a portable battery powered power supply to an open position, connecting a corresponding connector of an electrically powered appliance to the electrical connector, using the power supply provide electrical energy to the electrical appliance, disconnecting the corresponding connector from the electrical appliance, and pivoting the electrical connector to a closed position in which the electrical connector is protected by a housing of the power supply. [0009] According to another aspect, a portable battery powered power supply supplies electrical energy to an electrical appliance. The power supply includes a housing including a battery receiving region that receives a generally cylindrical battery along a longitudinal axis and a top, a bottom, and a front. The power supply also includes power supply circuitry that receives electrical energy from a battery received in the battery receiving region, a connector that provides an electrical connection to a corresponding connector of the electrical appliance, and a connector carrier including a protruding portion that carries the connector. The power supply circuitry is located between the bottom of the housing and the battery receiving region, and the connector carrier is attached to the housing for pivotal motion about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The connector carrier is movable to first position in which the protruding portion protrudes forward from the front of the housing at a location to the front of the power supply circuitry and to a second position in which the protruding portion protrudes rearward from the front of the housing at a location above the battery receiving region. [0010] According to still another aspect, a portable battery powered power supply supplies electrical energy to an electrical appliance that includes a housing having a bottom, a first upstanding surface, and an appliance electrical connector that is accessible from the bottom of the appliance and spaced away from the upstanding surface. The power supply includes a housing including a battery receiving region, a bottom. The power supply also includes a second upstanding surface, power supply circuitry that receives electrical energy from a battery received in the battery receiving region, and an upwardly facing electrical connector that engages the appliance electrical connector. The spacing between the upwardly facing connector and the second upstanding surface is user adjustable to selectively accommodate a first electrical appliance in which the appliance electrical connector is spaced away from the first upstanding surface by a first distance and a second electrical appliance in which the appliance electrical connector is spaced away from the first upstanding surface by a second distance that is different from the first distance. [0011] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate still other aspects of the invention upon reading and understanding the appended description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a portable power supply; [0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled portable power supply; [0014] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a portable power supply, flexible connector and cellular phone; [0015] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a process of this invention; [0016] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an electronic circuit; [0017] FIG. 6 depicts the transfer function of an electronic circuit; [0018] FIG. 7 is a top front perspective view of a portable power supply; [0019] FIG. 8 is a top front perspective view of a portable power supply with a cover rendered transparent; [0020] FIG. 9 is a bottom front perspective view of a portable power supply with a cover rendered transparent; [0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board and light pipe; Continue reading about Direct current power supply... Full patent description for Direct current power supply Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Direct current power supply patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Direct current power supply or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Inverter system Next Patent Application: Vehicle generator control device Industry Class: Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Direct current power supply patent info. 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